As spring approaches, many households are looking forward to the longer days and warmer temperatures, which will provide much-needed relief from the costs associated with heating and lighting their homes. For those depending on state benefits and pensions, there is additional positive news this season: a 1.7% increase in various benefits and a significant 4.1% rise in the state pension will take effect in April.
However, this financial uplift comes amid government plans to release a green paper addressing the reform of the health and disability benefit system. The goal of these reforms is to potentially save up to £5 billion from the welfare budget. Details regarding this green paper are anticipated to be unveiled at the end of March, just before the new benefit and pension payment rates from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) come into play.
When will benefits be paid in March?
Benefit payments are typically deposited directly into the claimant’s bank, building society, or credit union account. If a payment date coincides with a weekend or a bank holiday, the payment will usually be made on the preceding working day. In March, there are no public holidays in England, Wales, and Scotland, so benefit payments will only be altered if the scheduled payment date falls on a weekend, in which case the payment will be made on the preceding Friday.
In Northern Ireland, however, there are bank holidays on Monday, March 17, and Tuesday, March 18. Benefit payments in this region are managed by the Department for Communities. If a bank holiday occurs, payments will be issued on the last working day prior to the holiday, which is Friday, March 14.
Here is the schedule for DWP’s benefit payments:
- Attendance Allowance – typically every four weeks
- Carer’s Allowance – paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
- Child Benefit – usually every four weeks, or weekly for single parents and some benefit claimants
- Disability Living Allowance – generally every four weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance – typically every two weeks
- Income Support – usually paid every two weeks
- Jobseeker’s Allowance – generally every two weeks
- Maternity Allowance – paid every two or four weeks
- Pension Credit – typically every four weeks
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – usually every four weeks
- Tax Credits – every four weeks or weekly
- Universal Credit – paid monthly
If a benefit payment is not received by the expected date, the DWP advises claimants to verify the payment date on their award notice and check their bank account. If the payment date is correct but the funds have not been credited to the account, claimants should reach out to the appropriate helpline provided on the government website.
When will pensions be paid in March?
Similar to benefits, state pensions are directly deposited into the claimant’s bank, building society, or credit union account. Pension payments are scheduled on a four-week cycle, and the specific day of payment is determined by the last two digits of the claimant’s National Insurance (NI) number. The following is the correspondence between NI numbers and payment days:
- 00 to 19: Monday
- 20 to 39: Tuesday
- 40 to 59: Wednesday
- 60 to 79: Thursday
- 80 to 99: Friday
Since there are no bank holidays in March for England, Wales, and Scotland, the scheduled state pension payment days will remain unaffected. In the event of any issues with pension payments, claimants can find assistance through the helpline available on the DWP website.
